Automatic throttling mechanism.



e. R. BO'RNER.

AUTOMATIC THROTTLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1908.

1,139,478. 1 Patented May 18, 1915.

0 Fig.1.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV RUDOLF BfilRNER OF LEIPZIG-EUTRIZSCE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRM OF LUDWIG HUPFELD AKTIEN-GESELLSGHAFT, OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC THBOT'ILING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV Rooonr BoRNER, a subject of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, residing at Leipzig- Eutrizsch, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Throttling Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Wlll enable others skilled in the "art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automatic throt-V tling mechanism and especially to mechanism for automatically operating the throttle valve or slide in pneumatic, key-operated musical instruments for varying the intensity of tone, said mechanism being controlled by the note sheet whereby said slide can be positioned within greater limits and held in any position for any desired length of time, being under pneumatic control.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are similarly designed, Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing mechanism for controlling a throttle slide valve. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a modification of the bellows.

The throttle valve, here shown by way of example as a slide valve a, controls an opening 7 and is connected by a pivoted rod 8, to a lug 9 on a cross bar 6 whose ends are suitably connected to the movable walls or elements of a double bellows bd or other pneumatically operated moving devices. The lug 9 is in turn connected by the rod 10 to a slide valve p,said slide valvebeing preferably E-shaped in section, the middle portion or rib p of which, controls the ends of suitable pipes 1 to 6. This valve slides on a suitable valve board 8 in which said pipes terminate, the opposite ends of these pipes terminating in the note board m.

The bellows b-d are connected respectively by pipes b and d into separate valve chests 11 and 12 respectively, said chests being normally open to the atmosphere through their ports 13 and 14. These ports 13 and 1 1 are controlled respectively by valves f and 9 preferably formed as lift valves. Below the valves f and g is an intermediate chamber it connected by a small Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

opening 1; in a partition 15 with a chamber Z ust below, which chamber is connected directly with the suction apparatus of the instrument. Below the valves 9 and f are inflatable flexible membranes g and f which are located directly above air inlet pipes g and f respectively.

From beneath the membranes of each of the valvesis a small-passage 16 leading to the chamber Z permitting their deflation when the air supply to the membranes has been out 0E. The openings of pipes 1 to 6 are normally closed by the note sheet but should it be desired at any time to throttle or open 7, a perforation is placed in the note sheet so as touncover any one of the several pipes 1 to 6 according to the degree of openingIor throttling desired to be. obtained.

ow should, for example, the perforation in the note sheet that is to control the throttle valve come, opposite the end of the pipe 3 in the note board, air will be admitted through said pipe 3 into the right hand portion of the valve p and said valve forming a connecting member between the pipe 3 and the pipe f whereby air will pass through 3, the valve 10, the pipe f below this membran 7" inflate or raise the valve f to close the opening or port 13, thereby placing the pipe 12 leading to the bellows 6 into communication with the suction mechanism 11. of the instrument, 6. 6., through chamber 11, the seat of valve f, chamber h, perforation z and suction pipe '0. This will cause the bellows b. to collapse and move the rods 8 and 10 with the respective valves a and p to the right until the partition in the valve p closes the exit or end of the pipe 3, whereupon the supply of air being cut oil, the membrane f willbe deflated through passage 16and allow valve f to drop and place the bellows I) again in communication with the, atmosphere through valve chamber 11 The collapsing of bellows a? will cause the l j g and place the bellows (i in until the middle rib p of the valve 3? closes the pipe 1 cutting ofl the supply of outside air to permit the deflation of the membrane permit the valve 9 to drop and again communication with the atmosphere.

In order to more rapidly move the throttling valve a, a third valve r is arranged between the chambers it and Z also controlled by the note sheet. This valve is operated by membrane 1", below which terminates a pipe 7 ending in the note board m so that when itis desirable to rapidly operate the valve (:4, a perforation in the note sheet adapted to uncover the end of the pipe '7 1n the note board m operates simultaneously with the perforation controlling any one of the remaining pipes 1 to 6 whereupon the valve 7= is raised to exhaust the chamber h more rapidly into the chamber Z than is permlssible by the small opening 2', so that as soon as the main valve f or g is raised by reason of opening a controlling pipe 1 to 6 the bellows will be more rapidly exhausted.

It is of course obvious that under normal conditions the size of the opening 2' controls the rapidity of movement of the bellows. Should it be desirable to prevent the movement of the valves a and 3) suitable braking mechanism or device may be used for example, a spring 7) pressing the valve 20 against its board 8- also for the same purpose may be used a spring 77 entering rounded recesses p in the valve p. The latter structure besides acting as a brake for the valve, will also act to accurately position the valve p to overcome any tendency of the valve and parts connected thereto to pass (by reason of inertia) beyond the position intended for them to assume. However, under ordinary circumstances the suction load on the valve p is sufiicient to secure the position of the parts.

The number of pipes from 1 to 6 can be varied in accordance with the demands of the instrument and the length of the perforations in the note sheet need not be very long. Since after an initial movement of the valve [1, the entrance of air to any one of the pipes l to 6 may be intermittent or discontinuous. Should it be desirable to ad just the valve (1 into only two positions then the valve may be dispensed with, since the pipes g and f may be then directly controlled from the note sheet.

In pneumatic instruments that have a divided wind chest, an adjusting mechanism as herein described is used for each division. The mechanism forming the subject matter of my invention can be used in connection with so called piano players that are embodied in a separate instrument capable of as well as any instruments in which the automatic playing mechanism is built in.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification of the double bellows b-d shown in Fig. 1. In this form the bellows Z) and d have a fixed side or casing 2. and a central divided partition a which separates the bellows from one another. In this form the central partition a is movable from right to left and has secured to it the rods 8 and 10. In place of the bellows, other inflatable and deflatable devices may be used, as membranes.

I claim:

1. In a pneumatic throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with a pair of pneumatically operated mov ing devices and a throttling element connected thereto; of a suction chamber, a note sheet, a valve mechanism controlled from the note sheet to place said pneumatic moving devices in communication with said suction chamber and means to cut out the note sheet control.

2. In a throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with a pair ofinflatable and deflatable movin devices and a throttling element connected thereto; of a suction chamber, a note sheet, a valve mechanism to connect the inflatable devices with said chamber and operated by the suction in the chamber and pipes to admitatmospheric air to said valves controlled by the note sheet and means intermediate the note sheet and valve mechanism to cut off the note sheet control.

3. In a throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with coiiperating inflatable and deflatable movsheet, valve mechanism controlled from the note sheet to place said devices in communication with the suction chamber for varying lengths of time determined by the note sheet and means controlled by the note sheet to more rapidly exhaust said devices and thereby increase the speed of movement of the throttling element whereby the intensity of the tone will be controlled within wide limits from the note sheet.

4. In a throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with a suction conduit and throttle valve therefor; of inflatable and deflatable means to which said valve is connected, a note sheet, valve mechanism to place said means under suction, a valve, and conduits controlled by the note sheet for selectively positioning said valve and simultaneously placing said valve mechanism into operation.

5. In a throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with pneumatically operated moving devices and a throttling valve connected thereto; of a suction chamber, a slide valve connected to the moving devices, a valve chamber for each moving device, and an intermediate chamber between the valve chambers and suction chamber and vented into the latter chamber, valves controlling the communication between the valve chamber and intermediate chamber, pneumatic valve actuating means controlled by the slide valve, air supply pipes from the note board to the slide valve controlled by the note sheet, a by-pass between the intermediate chamber and suction chamber, and a valve controllin said by-pass and pneumatically controlled from the note sheet.

6. In a throttling mechanism for automatic key instruments, the combination with pneumatically, operated moving devices, a throttle valve a and a slide valve p having two valve chambers; of a suction chamber Z, an intermediate chamber 7:. vented at z into the suction chamber, valve chambers 12 and 11, connected to the moving devices, valves f and g controlling the communication of the valve chambers with the intermediate chamber and outer air, a valve board, pipes 9 f from the valves terminating at each end of the valve board, a note board, and pipes from the note board terminating in the valve board between the pipes g and f 7. In a throttling mechanism for expression in automatic musical instruments, the combination with a throttle and oppositely operating pneumatic throttle moving devices; of a note sheet, valve mechanism controlled from the note sheet to control the operation of said devices, and means to automatically disconnect the note sheet control- 8. In a throttle mechanism for expression in pneumatic musical instruments, the combination with a throttle and oppositely operating pneumatic throttle moving devices; of a note sheet, valve mechanism controlled from the note sheet to control the operation of said devices and means operated by said devices to disconnect the note sheet control.

9. In a throttle mechanism for expression in pneumatic musical instruments, the combination with a throttle and oppositely operating pneumatic throttle moving devices; of a note sheet, valve mechanism controlled from the note sheet to control the operation of said devices, and a valve connected to the moving devices intermediate the note sheet and valve mechanism to cut off the note sheet control and thereby selectively operate the throttle.

10. In an expression mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments, the

combination with a throttle and oppositely operating connected pneumatics for moving the throttle; of a note sheet, a valve mechanism to control the operation of the pneumatics and controlled by the note sheet, a valve connected to and operated by the eration of said mechanism and pneumatlc means to control and limit the extent of movement of the movable members of the pneumatics.

12. The combination with oppositely operating pneumatics connected together; of valve mechanism controlling the pneumatic pressure therein, a note sheet controlling the operation of said valve mechanism, a slide valve connected to the pneumatics and operable by the pneumatics, said valve cooperating with the valve mechanism and note sheet to vary the extent of movement of the pneumatics, and means acting on the valve to retard and accurately position it.

13. The combination with oppositely operating pneumatics connected together; of valve mechanism controlling the pneumatic pressure in the pneumatics, a note sheet controlling the operation of said mechanism, a slide valve having notches therein cooperating with said mechanism and note sheet to regulate the extent of movement of the pneumatics and a spring adapted to engage the notches to retard and accurately position the slide valve when moved.

14. The combination with oppositely operating pneumatics connected together; of valve mechanism controlling the pneumatic pressure in the pneumatics, a note sheet controlling the operation ofsaid mechanism, a slide valve having notches on its back cooperating with said mechanism and note sheet to regulate the extent of movement of the pneumatics, and a spring adapted to engage the notches, to retard and accurately position the slide valve when moved and also hold the valve against its seat.

15. In combination, a double pneumatic, a suction chamber and valves controlling the connection of said pneumatic. and chamber, a valve connected to said penumatic and controlling said valves, and note-sheet controlled pneumatic conduits cooperating with said valve to control the extent of movement of the double pneumatic, and note-sheet controlled mechanism to increase the speed of movement of the double pneumatic.

16. In a pneumatically controlled musical instrument, a motor pneumatic, a valve mechanism to control said pneumatic, a tracker bar, means between said tracker bar and said valve mechanism whereby the pneumatic may be placed in any one of a series of positions by once opening a tracker duct corresponding to the desired position of the motor pneumatic.

fir

17. In a pneumatically controlled musical instrument, a motor pneumatic, a valve mechanism to control said pneumatic, a tracker bar, a series of ducts each having an opening in the tracker bar and connecting with said valve mechanism to vent said mechanism, and means actuated by said pneumatic to cut ofi' the duct for the time being in operation, said ducts controlled at 10 different points respectively of the travel of said means, whereby said pneumatic may be placed in any one of a series of positions. In'testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV RUDOLF BGRNER.

Witnesses:

AUGUST EMIL GENDTNER, RUDOLPH FRICKE. 

